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Audi's urban concepts will be revealed in spyder (shown) and coupe versions. Photo by Audi

Following an initial reveal in a series of sketches earlier this month, Audi has now provided Autoweek with detailed computer-enhanced photographs of its radical urban concepts--the compact two-seat city cars set to bow in September at the Frankfurt motor show.

Constructed in both coupe and spyder guise, the urban concept is described by Audi as a developmental study being used by a team of in-house designers, engineers and electrical experts to explore new avenues in styling, small-car packaging, ultralightweight construction and driveline efficiency.

Combining cues from basic German bubble cars and more contemporary aerospace design, the urban concepts use a common central tub to which Audi has attached a race-car-style pushrod suspension that supports outboard-mounted 21-inch wheels.

In coupe form it gets a full enclosed canopy that automatically retracts to reveal a snug two-seat cabin with staggered seating. The spyder, meanwhile, has a cut-down windscreen and partial side windows, in a move reminiscent of Audi's E-tron spyder concept. Various details, including the triangular shape of the headlamps, are said to signal the look of future Audi models.

At 128 inches in length, 66.9 inches in width and 47.2 inches in height, the coupe version is 19.8 inches longer, 5.5 inches wider and 13.3 inches lower than the Smart Fortwo electric drive. Based around a carbon-fiber monocoque, it is also claimed to weigh less than 1,100 pounds--or less than half the weight of Audi's current entry-level model, the A1 sold in European markets.

Powering the low-slung concepts is a 20-hp brushless electric motor mounted at the rear, which provides drive to the rear wheels. It draws energy from a lithium-ion battery pack, giving each of the concepts a range of between 31 and 37 miles, sufficient to meet the needs of many city commuters.

Performance is described as being equal to that of existing minicars, and to protect battery charge, top speed is limited to 62 mph.

Audi denies claims that it is pursuing a car along the lines of the urban concept for series production but insists lessons learned in its construction will have a positive effect on its more traditional models.

“Just as our earlier Avus concept led to the creation of our first aluminum-spaceframe model, the urban concept is forging the way forward for carbon fiber in volume production,” an Ingolstadt insider revealed.